Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-10
A HOLY KISS.
Promptly at !, After Prayer, and Quite
Satisfactory to All Concerned In the
Hazardous Undertaking.
DsDroiy prsS Br,ss

' N'N~
Satisfactory to All Concerned in the
Hazardous Undertaking.
Detroit Free Press.
He was tall and angular and extremely
grave. He wore q suit of black broadcloth
and snowy linen rs became his dignity rs a
clergyman. He sat erect in one corner of
the sofa, with both feet placed squarely on
the floor and his fingers interlocked before
him.
She was rather below the medium size.
Her hair was cOmbed smoothly back and
coiled in a simple knot behind. Her dress
was devoid of ruffie or plating, but scru-
pulously neat in its simplicity. She sat
at the farther end of the sofa, with her
eyes modestly fastened upon her folded
hands.
Silence reigned.
The clock licked in a slow measure, as
if duly impressed with the sOlemnity Of
the occasion.
The cat by the hearth washed her face
industriously, blinked her sleepy eyes at
the two on the sofa and then curled herself
up for a quiet nap.
He turned himself partly toward her,
and his eyes rested upon her with satisfac-
ton. His lips parted.
MARY"
She raised her eyes to his face.
do you remember it is seven years to-
night since our betrothal?"
Mary's eyes fell on her hands again as
she murmured'
Eyes, | remember"
A long pause, in which Mary changed
the folding of her hands. Again he spoke
gravely:
81 have been thinking. Mary, you feel
as though you knew me? As if you could
trust me? These seven years have been
years of peace and pleasure, have they not,
Nary"
''0h, yes" sighed Mary.
"Mary, it has come to me that this is
quite a BETTING time to seal our be-
trothal."
Mary in doubt raised her eyes 10 his.
HAS the thought come to you, Mary?"
But still Mary looked at him in wonder.
He shifted his position a little, and then
tried TO make his thought more plain to
her.
"Mary, you remember in the Bible they
used signs of affection we use not Does
it not seem betting we should follow the
example given us and greet each other
with a ~holy.kiss?"
Mary's eyes fell TO her hands again.
Speak, Mary; what is your thought on
the subject?"
Thus appealed to, Mary answered:
'As you think best always, Joseph"
He rose to his full height from the sofa,
and took a step toward her. Mary rose
also, and stood with down. cast eyes and
clasped hands before him. The cat was
still sleeping. He drew a step nearer and
took her hand lightly in his. The color
began to noun her face.
''Shall it be tomorrow night, Mary?'
"As you like, Joseph"
. AT : O'Clock ?"
AT Z" said Mary, and he left her.
The next night Mary, feeling rather
more uneasy than usual, sat at her knit
ting and watched the hands of the clock.
Just as the hands pointed exactly at z
o'clock the knocker at the front door rose
and fell. She laid aside her knitting and
went with outward calmness to let him In
as usual. He left his outside coat in the
hall, and they came into the room to-
gether. He glanced at the clock.
at is q. You remember of what we
were speaking last evening, Mary? Shall
we ask a blessing that it may prove all we
may anticipate; that we may not be dlsap-
pointed?"
They knelt while he put the petition.
And now, rs they rose from their knees,
he approached her, and the trying ordeal
was passed through with.
1t must have proved most satisfactory,
for when it had been repeated several times
Joseph exclaimed:
This is good. What we have missed
these seven years! Let US return thanks"